Amilcare Ponchielli

Born in an Italian village near Cremona that is now named after him (i.e., [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paderno_Ponchielli“ target=“_blank Paderno Ponchielli]), Ponchielli is something of a one-hit wonder: whilst he wrote several operas, only one is now regularly performed (La Gioconda). Nevertheless, he is regarded as second only to Verdi in importance as a nineteenth century Italian opera composer.

He studied music at the Milan Conservatory from 1843-1845: by the age of ten, he'd written his first symphony, though not orchestrated it. After graduating, he became a church organist in Cremona, gradually acquiring opera conducting experience in the local theatre. His first opera was written in 1860 (I promessi sposi) and had a reasonable local run -but La Scala regarded as beneath their lowest standards, so it practically died thereafter. Another opera in 1863 received only a single performance. It wasn't until 1873 that one of his ballets was given at La Scala and the music publisher Ricordi contracted to publish his music.

In 1876, Arrigo Boito wrote the libretto for Ponchielli's greatest hit, La Gioconda. Subsequent operas again failed to ignite much interest from the public. His last few years of life were spent as chair of composition at the Milan Conservatory -where he taught the likes of Puccini (whose first opera can be said to have been written at Ponchielli's urging) and Mascagni. He died unexpectedly of pneumonia in Milan, in January 1886.

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